>Before you answer him, you see that the officials have finally shown up in person for the semi-finals and finals.
>On what seems to be a judge’s table, sits Iron Will, the organizer of the tournament; Shining Armor, the overseer and step-in for Princess Cadance; and Flash Sentry, captain of Celestia’s Royal Guard and main security for the tournament.
>Looking back at Mystic Shade, you smile.
“No thanks. Let's put on a good show, just for the crowd's sake. Who knows? I just might surprise you.”
>He’s silent.
>You take that offensively, thinking that he’s going to mop the floor with you, after the skill you’ve shown in this tournament.
>You decide to give him no mercy, to make sure that he will turn ogre.
“Now, allow me to show you the dance of my people.”
>He shakes his head.
>”That will not be necessary.”
“Oh, but it is.”
>You bust out a new move that makes you feel like a mean, green, dancing machine.
>You begin to move in ways that scientists would think impossible, hitting positions that looked downright abstract.
>You catch a few glimpses of Mystic Shade’s face, and he looks absolutely baffled.
>Once you finish your people’s dance, the entire tournament grounds were silent.
>Not even a peep, besides the billowing of the wind.
>Mystic Shade is confused! (-66% hit chance for 4 turns)
>The crowd is confused!
>Your party is confused!
>Iron Will is confused!
>Shining Armor is confused!
>Flash Sentry is confused!
>A sound of the gong begins the battle…
 
[BATTLE START] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKrAKxzAXsk
>Anonymous: [HP: 130/130][MP: 18/18][Defenses: 20 PD, 25 MD]
Inventory: [Use >Inventory to expand!]
Abilities: Basic hand to hand combat, Basic alchemy skills (Allows brewing of low-level potions and enchantments), Moderate medical use (+50% medkit efficiency), Basic Veterinary knowledge (Allows kit usage on animals), Basic Engineering skills (Allows creation of simple mechanical devices), Ogre Dance (0-4 Fail, 5-9 Succeed, confuses enemy), Moderate spear combat (+5 dmg), Very High Magical Defense (+20 magical armor), basic knowledge of Everfree weeds, {S.S.S. +15 dmg with Anon’s/Red’s separate damage. 5tcd}, Shoot dart, Brew potion (non-com), Giga Buster (4 MP, Good attack, +25 MA, 3 turn CD), Saber Slash (1 MP, +15 magic dmg, 75% hit chance, 2 turn CD), Flamescythe (2 MP, Good attack, +10 MA, 4 turn CD), Parry (50% hit, deflects enemy atk/counters 50% dmg), Heart’s Calling (5tcd, Gives 50% attack boost to entire party for next turn)
Equipped: Redheart-inscribed ‘Legendary’ Doctor’s Trenchcoat (+10 HP to medkit usage), Mysterious markings, Double-bladed spear (+10 P dmg., +15 M dmg, can attack spectrals), Amulet of Heart’s Calling (+5 HP), Medic-Issued Avian Chainmail Cap (+5 P.D./+1 M.D.), Medic-Issued Avian Chainmail (+7 P.D./+2 M.D.), Medic-Issued Avian Chainmail Talons (+5 P.D./+1 M.D.), Medic-Issued Avian Chainmail Sabatons (+3 P.D./+1 M.D.), Avian Leather Boots (Lowers exhaustion)
>Mystic Shade: [HP: 170/170, C][MP:75/75][Defenses: 80 MD]
 
>”How did you bend like that?!”
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
[ANONYMOUS]
>Used Heart’s Calling!
>Your necklace gleams with a sudden illumination that you’ve never seen before, and it reacts with your markings!
>You see your markings beginning to glow that familiar technicolor from under your armor, and you prepare yourself to finish this fight in one blow.
[MS: HP: 170/170, C][MP: 75/75]
>”What… Is that?...”
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
 
[MYSTIC SHADE]
>Attacks Anonymous with Array Gun!
>5 (+30 MA)(x1.5) = >53<
[-25 MD]
>28<
Anon: [HP: 102/130][MP: 18/18]
>Your Heart breaths with your next attack!
 
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
1
 
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks with Saber Slash!
>8 (+5+15 PA+15 MA)(+77%/x4 Calling) = >304<
[-80 MD]
>224<
>In a flash of adrenaline, Mystic Shade puts up a shield as you attack him, but only absorbs some of the damage!
[-25% Negation]
>168<
 
>Mystic Shade: [HP: 2/170, KO][MP: 75/75]
>”!”
[BATTLE END]
 
[You have increased your skill in spear combat!
NEW SKILL:
Expert Spear Combat
>+15 Base damage, 10% chance to crit for x2
NEW SKILL:
Call shot
>Allows you to call a specific location to attack on an enemy’s body to focus damage, but reduces hit chance by 66%]
 
>The battle begins, the gong’s sound ringing in the air.
>As Mystic Shade’s horn begins to glow with his attack, your necklace suddenly begins to react with your markings.
>The feeling began to trickle down your entire body, and your markings began to glow like they did when they were first etched into you.
>You rush forward, taking a powerful white beam to the chest.
>The Heart’s Calling amulet seems to protect you, the blast arcing off of your form and making hundreds of craters behind you.
>Brandishing your spear, you rush up to him and throw it forward in a magnomius display of power, the enchantment on your spear glowing with red streaks.
>Shade knew what you were doing and he puts up a shield with impressively fast reflexes, but it didn’t stop you.
>Five seconds into battle, your spear slams into his crystalline form with a dazzling display of magical prowess from both sides, and he falls to the ground, unconscious.
>You raise yourself up, keeping your staff upright next to you as you stare at your defeated foe.
>Would you like to say anything to the completely stunned crowd?
 
 
 
>You stand at attention and look at them all.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Anonymous. What you’ve just witnessed was nothing more than the power of love. Love inspired by the one and only Nurse Redheart!”
>You wave out at her, and she waves back with an intense blush and shy look on her face.
>The rest of the party started giggling like schoolgirls. ...Schoolfillies?
“But seriously, if you're interested in kicking as much ass as me… Well, keep dreaming. But! You'll get a hell of a lot closer by visiting Gyro Gear's Great Scientific Wonders, located in the business district! I'm here 'til Thursday!”
>You do a quick wave as you walk away from the arena once the medics start reporting in.
[“NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I SEEN SUCH UNADULTERATED, OOZING TESTOSTERONE FROM ANYONE ELSE BESIDES MYSELF! JUST LOOK AT THAT GUY GO, PONIES, THAT’S A REAL WARRIOR, OH YEAH! DR. MOOSE, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VICTORY AGAINST MYTHIC SHADE, AND WE’LL SEE YOU IN THE FINALS, ONE HOUR FROM NOW!”]
>You walk back into the booth, seeing only two competitors.
>Gable, and the pony he’s fighting next.
>You feel very sorry for the latter.
>You have an hour to kill, and you’re sure the party’s going to be back here soon to congratulate you on making the finals.
>What would you like to do?
 
 
 
>You actually got pretty roughed up by that spell that Mythic Shade hit you with, even if most of it was deflected.
>Now your doubled-up bandages were a bit singed with dried blood being burned and flaked off.
>You decide to go to the Medical Tent to change them out and fix yourself up.
>Upon arriving, you make a quick scan of the tent’s status.
>It isn’t as busy as before because of the much lower amount of fighters from these last few rounds, but there are still a few stragglers from earlier rounds that really got their asses handed to them.
>That includes Little Strongheart, too. It looks like they were just letting her sleep for a while before releasing her.
>You get out an extra supply medkit from the closet and get to work.
[Used Supply Medkit. +25% (+50% Moderate skill) = 75%]
>+98 HP<
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP:17/18]
>Once you finish getting your armor adjusted, you look out and speak to a few of the passing nurses.
“Hey, is there anything I can do to help, possibly?”
>”Well, we still have a few fighters under from their battles with you, if you wanted to change our their IV bags and make sure everything is fine?”
“That sounds good, thanks.”
>You take a closer inspection at the occupied beds, and wonder where you should go.
 
[There are currently 3 combatants requiring attention.
-Charm Rose
-Jettison Streak
-Little Strongheart]
 
>Who do you want to tend to first?
 
 
 
>Inspect Call Shot
[Call an attack combined with this to focus the damage on the area specified, while lowering your hit chance by 66%. For example:
>Attack with Expert Spear Combat: Call Shot - Elbow
You would attack the elbow and possibly create an extenuating battle circumstance by destroying the enemy's ability to attack, but it is harder to land an attack this way.]
 
 
 
 
>Looking back at Little Strongheart, you couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt for what you did.
>This guilt leads you on, and you get some supplies and walk over to her bed.
>She was still asleep, so you were careful as you did the routine checkup of a stabilized patient.
>Changing her IV bag, checking the wet bandages, and turning her. Most were things you learned from Redheart.
>It took you a solid ten minutes, but you managed to do the entire checkup without her waking.
>You knew she needed her sleep for now, so you were going to leave her be for now.
>A quick look around the tent shows you that the party hasn’t arrived yet.
>Should you go to Charm Rose or Jettison Streak, next?
 
 
 
>You take a look over at Charm Rose, and see that she hasn’t been attended to in a while, either.
>Getting your supplies moved up, you walk over to her, and see that she actually was awake, but hadn’t noticed you yet.
>You think it was now or never, and you set your supplies on the desk next to her, alerting your presence.
>Charm looks over her shoulder and spots you, to which she makes a snorting noise and lays back down.
>You prepare your supplies as you speak.
“I know you probably have some resentment towards me, but you fought well. Sorry you had to face me, I just need that money for a very important job I’m doing right now.”
>She doesn’t respond.
>You shrug and begin to do the check-up routine on her, doing everything you did with Little Strongheart, to which she very reluctantly did as you said without speaking.
>Would you like to say anything to her during the check?
 
 
 
>The resulting patch is very awkward.
>You try to respect her by not saying anything, but once you finish, you knew she wasn’t going to say anything.
>You decide to go full autist and break the silence.
“There… All better.”
>She still doesn’t speak.
>You can’t put it down, it’s just eating at you.
“May I make a suggestion? I'm still pretty new to the magic scene, I've got power but no finesse, as you've seen. If I had control like yours, I'd use it to disguise that armor to look like you. It'd be a lot tougher to ignore that way. … Anyways, I think you're doing alright. Anything still hurting?”
>Still absolutely nothing.
>You actually turn around to leave, but you want to get at least one word out of her before you leave.
>Turning back, you rub your chin and ask her the only thing you could think of.
“If you don’t mind me asking… What did you need the prize money for?”
>”I needed it to pay for my brother’s operation.”
>She says no more, and pulls up her blanket, closing her eyes.
>Out in the distance, you see that your party is approaching, an ecstatic Pinkie waving like a madmare.
>What do you do?
 
 
“I’m assuming it’s something healing potions couldn’t cure, so… Can I ask what it is? And how much?”
>”Why would I tell you that…”
“I might be able to help, if you’d like.”
>Another moment of silence, and your party draws closer.
>”... Look, bub. I don’t know or care what you’re trying to pull here, but I’m not about to tell a stranger like you something that personal. The prize money wouldn’t have even covered it all, so you can’t help anyways… Just leave!”
>It looks like she didn’t like you very much.
>If you were intent on helping, you’d have to prove it to her, but how?
>You run out of time to think about this, as you suddenly start getting poked in the stomach with a shiny pink hoof.
>”Nonny, what did it feel like getting hit by magic? Was it really really cool!?”
>Er, actually it stung like a bitch, but either way.
“Not really…”
>You see that Charm Rose had fallen asleep, or at least was feigning it.
>Redheart fixes something you missed with the IV, then led you away towards the opening of the tent.
>”So Anon, what do you think of Gable?”
“Er, Gable?”
>”Your finalist competitor?”
“Oh… He won already?”
>”Yeah, you didn’t hear the announcement?”
>You must’ve been busy when it happened.
>What should you say to Redheart?
 
 
 
[ADDED TO QUEST LOG: Mare in the family {Find a way to help Charm Rose (0/1)}]
 
“I was lending a hand around here, but I don't think there's anything else to be done. How much time do we have left?
>”Oh, it’s only been a few minutes since the semi-final battles, there’s still a good 50 minutes left. Why?”
“Just a thought. Oh, and is Shining Armor still watching?”
>”Last I checked, he was there up at the table, so I’d assume so, yes.”
>Berry seems to be lost in her own world when she speaks.
>”Man, that Shining… It stinks he’s married… Oh, the things I’d do with him, mmm…”
>You, Redheart, Pinkie, AJ and Wheaties all look at her until she snaps out of her daydream.
>”What?”
>You smile at her antics, but you realize something.
>You excuse yourself from a moment and return to Charm Rose’s side.
>Tentatively, you place a hand on her wither, and you feel her tense, but you speak anyways.
“I have connections besides myself, you know. I know the head of the hospital’s office, Miracle Shine, and if you wish for it, I can help you even if you don’t think so. Please, find me after the tournament so I can do so.”
>You know she isn’t going to respond, so you give her a light pat, and you return to the group.
>They seem to be small talking with each other as you leave the medical tent with them.
>What would you like to do?
 
 
 
>After completely stepping outside, you stop to consider your choices.
>As you do this, Red seems to appear from nowhere, right by your side.
“Oh, hey. I was just thinking about some things.”
>She gives you a curious glance.
>“Like?”
>You shrug.
“I’m not really sure. I have what, an hour? I might just discuss something with Shining Armor, then kill some time training.”
>Redheart smiles.
>”Sounds good. We’ll be over here if you need us, Anon.”
>With a smile and a nod, you and the party split apart.
>Surprisingly, you find Shining Armor less than three minutes after you start going to where he last was, headed back for the judge’s table...
>...Carrying two large sodas and an oversized carrot in a bun.
>It’s like a hot dog. Would it be a carrot dog in this case?
>Not wanting to pass this chance up, you go to get his attention.
“Hey, you got a moment?”
>He turns his head, looking for the direction of your voice.
>His eyes finally stop on you.
>“I’m sorry, was that you?”
>You step towards him, trying to look friendly. It wouldn’t be good to have this guy thinking you’re going to attack at any moment.
“Yeah.”
>Realization seems to strike him as he fully takes in your form.
>”Hey bro, you’re… Doctor… Moose, right?”
>Heh, soon you shall be renowned by this name.
“That’s me, but you can just call me Anonymous. Or Anon; whichever works.”
>“Ah, I see. Nice to meet you, Anon. So, what is it that you need?”
>Looks like he’s straight to the point. That’s always nice.
“Likewise. So, you know that your sister and her friends are in town, right?”
>He nods, taking a bite of his carrot dog.
>”Mhhm.”
>He goes in to suck on the straw.
“They’re having a bit of trouble at the moment. They were supposed to have rooms at the castle, but you know how that is right now.”
>His eyes bug out and he spits out whatever soda he had sucked up.
>”Oh no, I forgot about that! I was supposed to talk to the hotel, but never got around to it, I’ve been so busy picking up Cadance’s responsibilities… You know what? We have time, I’ll get to that right now!”
>Shining armor tosses his food in the air and lets it land in his mouth, eating it all in one bite. He then makes a mad dash towards the hotel.
>”Thanks, Moose! You’re a real bro!”
>After a few more moments, he vanishes from your sight.
>Well, that’s settled.
>You wonder what he meant by Cadance’s responsibilities, though...
>Next up is the training.
>A few minutes pass before you arrive at the waiting booth.
>A few of the training dummies are open, and you felt like you were nice and rested considering the last battle only took one hit.
>You brandish your spear, focusing on your attack and defense…
[TRAINING START]
>Training abilities [Limited - Training Dummy]:
-Technique: [Focus directly on your weapon or hand to hand combat skills.]
-Focus Training: [Focus on a specific ability to gain experience with it.]
-Onslaught: [Focus on relentless offense, gain attack strength but chance to exhaust.]
>
>Inspect Ogre Dance
[It is the dance of your people. (No experience)]
>Inspect Saber Slash
[You infuse your magic into your spear to deliver a powerful slash combining your physical and magical strength. -1 MP, +15 Magic Attack, 2 turn cooldown, 75% hit chance.]
[Experience: 75/100]
>Inspect Flamescythe
[You utilize your marking’s strength and the fire enchantment on your spear to deliver a devastating electroflame scythe attack that obliterates whatever is in its way. -2 MP, +10 Magic Attack, Good Attack, 4 turn cooldown]
[Experience: 50/200]
 
>Focus Training: Saber Strike
>You burst your magic with each strike against the Dummy, using that trust Saber Strike you’ve neglected.
>As powerful as it was against Mythic Shade, that was the amulet’s doing.
 
[TRAINING SABER STRIKE. . .
How long do you want to train it for?]
[5M][10M][20M][30M][1H]
[1H]
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>0< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >35<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>6< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >41<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>00< (+5+15 PA+15MA)(x2 Doubles) = >70<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>0< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >35<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>0< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >35<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>3< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >38<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>9< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >44<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>4< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >39<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>1< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >36<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>1< (+5+15 PA+15MA)(x2 Doubles) = >72<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>8< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >43<
>Attacks Training Dummy with Saber Strike!
>7< (+5+15 PA+15MA) = >42<
[1H passed]
[You have gained 50 experience.]
[SABER SLASH UPGRADED!
>New Attack: +25 MA, 2 turn cooldown, 75% hit chance
>You can train your new attack a few different ways.
-Potency: Increases Physical or Magical damage by 10. (Specify)
-Precision: Increases hit chance by 25%.
-Haste: Decreases cooldown by one turn.
>Which would you like to pursue?
>What would you like to name New Attack?]
>Potency Selected
>Name Entered: Redheart Cummer
[SABER SLASH UPGRADED TO REDHEART CUMMER
>-2 MP, +25 MA, 2 turn cooldown]
 
>As you ready yourself for another round of training, you’re suddenly interrupted by a deafening roar over the magical intercom.
[“MARES AND GENTLECOLTS, IT’S TIME FOR THE FINAL MATCH! I HOPE YOU’RE AS READY AS I AM! WE’RE GOING INTO A BATTLE WITH TWO OF THE MOST ASSERTIVE GUYS I HAVE EVER SEEN! DR. MOOSE VS. GABLE, NOW LET’S GET! IT! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!”]
>You enter the familiar arena as dust swirls around your feet with every step forward.
>Gable stands on the other end, still holding his stoic, confident and intimidating demeanor.
>Regardless of your success, this opponent has demolished his opponents as if they were mere babies.
>It makes you a bit nervous, but you make no show of it and wear an unwavering confidence in your stride as you take your stance and ready yourself.
>It's time, the final fight.
>Gable stares you down from the other end of the arena, his beak moving for one sentence.
>”Are you prepared?”
>Would you like to say anything to your formidable opponent?
 
 
 
>You decide that actions speak louder than words.
>There’s only one appropriate action to do in this situation.
“Behold… The dance of my people!”
>You dance, smirking a bit as you view a mental image of a confused Gable stumbling around the arena as his wings flap wildly.
>Something isn't right though...he is just staring at you, eyebrow arched.
>"This dance is insulting, you know. I have seen it far too many times, but if you are going to act like a buffoon, then I'll end this quickly!"
>Uh oh.
>A sound of the gong begins the battle...
[BATTLE START] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riuTaOKh7e0
>Anonymous: [HP: 130/130][MP: 18/18][Defenses: +20 PD, +25 MD]
>Gable: [HP: 200/200][Defenses: 20 PD, 45 MD]
>Gable suddenly rushes without warning, making you unable to attack first!
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
 
 
 
[GABLE]
>Attacks Anonymous with Expert Hand to Hand Combat
>4 (+10 x2 crit = 20/+10) = >34<
[-20 PD]
>14<
Anon: [HP: 116/130][MP: 18/18]
 
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
1
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks with Giga Buster! [-4 MP][3 turn CD]
>76 (+25 MA) = >101<
[-45 MD]
>64<
Gable: [HP: 136/200]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
GABLE]
>Attacks Anonymous with Screech!
>4 (+15) = >19<
[-20 PD]
>19<
>Anon’s defense has been lowered! (½ defense for 3 turns)
Anon: [HP: 97/130, -D][MP: 14/18]
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
2
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks with Flamescythe!
CRITICAL HIT!
>88 (+10 MA)(x2 Doubles) = >196<
[-45 MD]
>151<
>Gable endures the attack with sheer willpower!
Gable: [HP: 1/200]
>“No!... I won’t go down that easy!”
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
[GABLE]
>Attacks Anonymous with RIP AND TEAR!
>84<
[-10 PD]
>74<
>Anon is Bleeding!
Anon: [HP: 23/130, B, -D][MP: 14/18] “GHAAAHHGHR!...”
>Gable is knocked out!
[BATTLE END]
 
>Your battle was short and swift.
>It was also one of the most painful experiences of your life.
>Gable rushes you for the final time with speed you couldn’t comprehend.
>You could only raise your spear and channel your magic into the enchantment, using your Flamescythe.
>You actually manage to hit him, but he didn’t quit until his talons bore through your armor and ripped out your entrails.
>...A few of your entrails were split out of your armor.
>It hurts, but not like any normal pain.
>All you could manage was a choked cough as your brain still tried to process what was happening.
“GHAAAHHGHR!...”
>You fall to your knees, but you force yourself to stay awake, despite the blinding pain in your abdomen.
>You aren’t sure, but you hear a thump behind you and assume it’s Gable’s unconscious body.
>You’re bleeding out, unable to hear the announcement…
>Your vision fading, seeing a blob of orange, pink and white running toward you..
>Then, blackness.
>...